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Composites market shows signs of stabilizing as future outlook brightens

Improving supplier deliveries and strong future business index point to opportunities ahead.

Overall composites index contracting faster than previous month

New orders, production and prices components all improved over October, though the GBI is still seeing contraction.

Contraction slows for second month, with some indicators improving

In September new orders and employment were up slightly, future business outlook improved and material prices dropped.

Composites activity still contracting, but slower than previous month

Future business outlook has improved but most other measures have continued contraction or remain “flat.”

Composites activity contracted faster for the third month in a row

GBI: Composites Fabricating landed at 41.6, becoming one of the index’s more significant declines in 2024 so far.

Composites industry activity continued to contract faster in June

Composites Fabricating’s second month of contraction, also reflected in other industry segments, suggests larger factors are at play.

CompositesWorld reveals 2024 Top Shops benchmarking survey results

CW recognizes the qualifying composites fabricators in its 2024 Top Shops program and highlights some of the survey's general findings.

Composites GBI shows faster activity contraction

The total index reading backed down in May from its anticipated expansion, contracting again to land at 46.8.

GBI activity knocks at the door of expansion in April

While the Composites Fabricating index still contracted in April, it continues to close in on a reading of 50, which indicates expansion.

Composites industry activity meaningfully slowed contraction in March

The GBI: Composites Fabricating still contracted in March, though it landed just one point shy of 50, which could eventually lead it into expansion territory.

CW’s 2024 Top Shops survey offers new approach to benchmarking

Respondents that complete the survey by April 30, 2024, have the chance to be recognized as an honoree.

Composites industry GBI stayed the course in February

The GBI: Composites Fabricating contracted in February to the same degree as January, maintaining its position in a contraction zone.

Watersports manufacturer diversifies into new markets, processes

CW Top Shops honoree Cobra International reflects on its growth over 45+ years, as well as current work expanding its automotive and UAV capabilities, increasing energy efficiency and new SMC production lines.

Defense manufacturer reflects on growth, opportunity in complex composite structures

Long Island-based, four-time CW Top Shops honoree GSE Dynamics cites diversification in processes, digitalization, workforce training and more on its successes over 50+ years, and looks ahead to future growth.

Industrial equipment manufacturer expands global footprint, reaches into new markets

India-based CW Top Shops honoree EPP Composites reflects on a recently successful vertical filament winding application and new pultruded FRP rebar capabilities, as well as future opportunities.

Fiberglass conduit manufacturer grows into new products, infrastructure applications

Texas-based Champion Fiberglass, a five-time CW Top Shops honoree, expands its success in the fiberglass composite conduit market into new applications and products, looking toward future automation and sustainability initiatives.

Composites industry activity stayed steady in January

The GBI: Composites Fabricating contracted in January to about the same degree it did in December, representing a move in the right direction.

Ballistic protection panels manufacturer relies on automation for high throughput, efficiency

Maine-based CW Top Shops honoree Compotech Inc. recently doubled its manufacturing space and team to produce modular composite panels for defense applications via light resin transfer molding (LRTM).

Finnish boatbuilder balances history, innovation in fiberglass composites design

CW Top Shops honoree Sargo Oy shares its successes in upgrading operations from hand layup to infusion, employing low-waste manufacturing practices, research in large-format 3D printing for mold production and more.

Composites industry gained back some ground in December

The GBI: Composites Fabricating contracted a little more slowly in December, landing between August and September 2023 values.

Composites industry heads into slightly accelerated contraction in November

The GBI: Composites Fabricating in November continued its general slow-going path of contraction that began in April 2023.

Composites industry saw stabilized contraction in October

The GBI: Composites Fabricating index has contracted for the seventh month in a row, with one notable change in component activity.

Composites activity returned with accelerated contraction in September

The GBI: Composites contracted faster again in September, closing down 1.6 points to 45.9, the lowest the index has been in more than 2 years.

CW Top Shops 2023: Honoring global top-performing facilities

CW congratulates the 2023 CW Top Shops honorees and composites fabricators whose leaders cite team expansion, focus on Industry 4.0 and adaptation to emerging markets among this year’s top achievements.

Contraction in composites industry activity slowed in August

The GBI: Composites contracted again in August, but closed up 1.1 points from July, ending 5 straight months of a downward trend.

Composites industry GBI contracted faster in July

The GBI: Composites maintains its consistent downward trend for the fifth month in a row.

Composites GBI lost a little ground in June

The GBI: Composites has contracted since April, just barely remaining within a two-point range of 50.

Composites GBI remains relatively unchanged in May

The GBI: Composites closed May at the same reading reported in April, with some minor fluctuations in component activity.

GBI: Composites Fabricating contracted in April

The Gardner Business Index closed April down 1.1 points, continuing its journey from expansion in February, to flat in March and ultimately contracting in April.

Composites industry index was flat for March

The GBI: Composites Fabricating closed March flat, losing 1.3 of the 3.1 points gained in February.

Composites industry index ends February in growth mode

The GBI: Composites Fabricating closed February at the same level it was in November 2022, right before experiencing a rare two months of contraction.

CW Top Shops 2022: Recognizing composites industry leaders

The highest-performing facilities from the 2022 CW Top Shops benchmarking survey share insights about business growth, overcoming labor shortages, sustainability best practices and more.

Composites Index shows little change in January

The GBI: Composites Fabricating closed January at around the same contractionary reading in December, with a majority of components following suit.

Demand components lead to composites GBI contraction

For the first time in two years, the Composites Fabricating Index has contracted, though components continue to shift between expanding and contracting activity.

Composites Index rebounds in November

The GBI: Composites Fabricating closed November up nearly two points, registering expanding activity versus October’s close call with contraction.

Composites GBI is headed toward contraction

The GBI: Composites Fabricating in October continued its deceleration trend, though it fared better than most of the manufacturing industry.

GBI: Composites Fabricating approaches contraction in September

The GBI: Composites Fabricating closed September on the verge of “flat,” a reading the Index has not seen in two years.

Composites industry GBI holds its own in August

The GBI: Composites Fabricating ended August with slowed expansion but managed to stay above water, with all component indices continuing to show slowed rates of growth.

Composites industry continues early 2022 trends into June

As in May, a majority of the components in the Gardner Business Index (GBI): Composites Fabricating continue movement into slowed expansionary growth.

Composites industry continues slowing expansion trend

The composites GBI “plays it again” in May at 56.7, mostly following the trend of slowing component expansion, though employment is an exception.

Survey results indicate continuing supply chain concerns

A recent survey conducted by CompositesWorld and Gardner Intelligence of composites fabricators illuminates supply shortage, lead time and workforce issues.

Composites industry continues 2022 upswing

The Gardner Business Index closed March out at 61.4, with production activity continuing to persist despite some restraints caused by supplier delivery and employment components.

What is the latest on the supply chain? Composites fabricators invited to take survey

How have you experienced availability of fibers, resins, core materials and other materials over the past few months? Please take this brief survey to let us know.

CW survey reveals ongoing supply chain struggles

A recent survey with Gardner Intelligence underscores supply chain issues and uncertainties reported by fabricators — with a bit of hope for future growth areas.

Composites fabricators invited to take CW supply chain survey

CW and Gardner Intelligence are conducting a survey of composites fabricators to assess the overall availability and deliverability of resins, fibers and other materials. Find more info and a link to the survey here.

Resin shortages continue to affect composites supply chain

Power outages caused by mid-February’s U.S. winter storms led to immediate shortages from Gulf Coast petrochemical companies. Fabricators continue to report shortages.

Glass fiber supply chain struggles amid pandemic, economic recovery

Transportation issues, rising demands and other factors have led to higher costs or delays for gun rovings and more. Suppliers and Gardner Intelligence share their perspectives.

Composites Index contracts faster in second month of COVID-19 lockdown

April 2020 – 35.1

Composites Index contracts as COVID-19 disrupts economy

March 2020 Index falls to historic low as domestic and foreign orders activity weakens.

Composites Index expands for first time since June

The Composites Index for January 2020 was 54.3, indicating strong expansion in all categories but exports.

Composites Index ends year on production boost

The Composites Index closed 2019 with a December reading of 49.2.

Composites Index improves on employment, new orders

The Composites Index moved higher in November with a reading of 49.4.

Webinar to discuss 2020 automotive market

Chief economist Michael Guckes and Gary Vasilash, editor of sister publication Automotive Design & Production, will host a webinar on Dec. 17.

Composites Index contracts on weak exports

The Composites Index experienced further contraction in business activity in October, with a reading of 48.3, led by steep contraction in export orders.

Index rises on surging new orders activity

The Composites Business Index moved higher in April 2019 due to strong acceleration in new orders activity.

Index shows modest expansion on production and supplier delivery activity

The Composites Business Index moved lower in March as backlogs contracted, resulting from slowing of the previous month’s new orders growth and increased production activity.

Composites outlook remains positive, despite slow growth forecasts

As economists forecast slowing economic growth, data from composites industry leaders suggest continued high expectations for the composites market.

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